Kinga Król’s collection draws from the fascination of a nymph as a feminine icon, a figure who lives on her own terms as a wild woman. In Slavic etymology, „dziwo“ means god, sacred, wonder, and „żona“ stands for female, wife. If the name is taken literally, she becomes a wonder woman or strange wife. In other Slavic languages she is called
“diva lena” or “divá žena” and is known in folk tales of many countries in South-East Europe.

Dziwożona relates to a wild, independent woman. She lives the life of an outsider as she is a fairly dangerous creature that raises both fear and fascination. She is a nymph of swamps or forests, a spirit of a young woman who died suddenly before her marriage, during or after childbirth. She did not have the opportunity to fulfil her social role as a woman, so she seduces men and abducts other people’s babies to replace them with her own offsprings, called “foundlings” or “changelings”. At first, she is perceived as a young, beautiful girl but reveals a face of an old, unattractive woman when approached. So now, in her afterlife, she suffers as a female demon. According to folk belief, only herbs can protect us from her visits and spells.

Król’s collection DZIWOżONA (Wild Woman) revolves around three intertwining elements: patterns, cuts and textures. The printed patterns are based on various hand-drawn herbs, which were used in the past as protection against evil eyes and evil itself. The pleats are a contemporary interpretation of festive, woolen, often very colourful
folk pleated skirts. Dresses designed as oversized chemises reference traditional peasant clothes. The collection takes a contemporary and abstract approach to embroidery, a traditional technique of decorating clothes. Loose threads correspond with an aura of independence and primal connection with nature.

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